Container handling apparatus



June 30, 1970 D. G. JOHN CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1968 y mww WW2 w June so, 1970 Y D. Gwm 3,517,s43

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 196 8 4 Sheets-Shoot :3

June 30, 1970 5, JOHN 3,517,843

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS v Filed Sept. 23, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

Aid [N749 DAVID GWYNFRYN JOHN gyM,b.-.;.

June 30, 1970 D. G. JOHN 3,517,843

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1968 4 Sheets$heet 4 US. Cl. 214314 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Container handling apparatus comprising, first and second frames each having spaced side members interconnected at their forward end by a single transverse member, said second frame being pivotally connected to said first frame with the rearward extremities of its side members positioned above the side members of the first frame and extensible means positioned between said first and second frames so that actuation of the extensible means results in a scissor-like movement taking place between the two frames which causes the transverse member of the first frame and the rearward extremities of the second frame to lift and/or tip a container when such is positioned between said side members.

The present invention relates to container handling apparatus and more specifically, to apparatus for lifting, transporting and discharging containers.

There are many systems in use at the present time for loading and unloading containers to and from vehicles but these, in general, are situated at large static sites and utilise conventional cranes, hoists, gantrys, and the like, and difliculties are often experienced in handling containers at sites without such facilities.

-An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which will lift, transport and, if desired, discharge the contents of a container without assistance from site equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container handling apparatus which is of simple construction and effects a saving in capital outlay.

The present invention consists in container handling apparatus comprising, first and second frames each having spaced side members interconnectedat their forward end by a single transverse member, said second frame being pivotally connected to said first frame with the rearward extremities of its side members positioned above the side members of the first frame and extensible means positioned between said first and second frames so that actuation of the extensible means results in a scissor-like movement taking place between the two frames which causes the transverse member of the first frame and the rear ward extremities of the second frame to life and/or tip a container when such is positioned between said side members.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of container handling apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container locking arrangement and chassis keep or blocking device and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container suitable for use with the apparatus according to the present invention.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, by way of example as applied to a trailer construction, there is provided an inner wheeled frame comprising spaced, longitudinally extending side members 11 interconnected by a single transverse member 12 at their forward ends only to form, in plan, a generally U-shaped frame. The wheels 13 are mounted, respectively, at the other end of the side members.

United States Patent 0 ice An outer frame 14, also comprising spaced, longitudi nally extending sidemembers 15 interconnected by a single transverse member 16 at their forward ends only is positioned with its side members and transverse member adjacent to and parallel with the corresponding members of the inner wheeled frame 10. The rearward portions of the outer frame side members 15 are positioned above and are pivotally mounted at 17 on the side members 11 of the wheeled frame 10 intermediate'the ends of the latter. The rearward extremity of each outer frame side member 15 is provided with a roller 18 which is adapted to engage a container as hereinafter described.

The transverse member 16 of the outer frame 14 is provided with a frame member 19 which is adapted to be pivotally connected to a tractor and with a hand-brake control 20 operatively connected to the wheels 13 of the trailer.

A pair of two-stage hydraulic piston-and-cylinder ar-' rangements 21 interconnect the wheeled inner frame 10 and outer frame 14 and each has one end connected between a pair of plates 22 on the rear end of each of the wheeled frame side members 11 and its other end connected to the rear extremity of the associated side member 15 of the outer frame adjacent the roller 18. It will be readily seen that extension of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 21 causes the two frames 10 and 14 to move apart around their pivotal connection 17 with a scissors-like action until the frames reach the limit or tipping position as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1.

A container 25 in the form of a hopper which it is intended to handle with the apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, but it must be remembered that the container may be of any desired shape suitable for the commodity it has to carry, provided it has:

(1) a channel-shaped flange 26 on each side thereof as shown in FIG. 4 to receive, respectively, the rollers 18 on the extremities of the outer frame side members, and

(2) attachment members 27 as shown in FIG. 3 which are engaged by the transverse member 12 of the wheeled frame 10.

If it is desired to discharge the contents of the container 25 by tipping the latter, then of course, the rear end thereof is provided with a hinged or removable door 28.

Referring now to the details shown in FIG. 3, the transverse member 12 of the wheeled frame is provided with a pair of inwardly directed, manually operated, spring loaded plunger arrangements 28, the plungers of which are adapted to engage, respectively, in an arcuate slot 29 in one of the attachment members 27 to lock the container 25 to the transverse member 12.

The transverse member 16 of the outer frame 14 is provided with spaced, pivotally mounted blocking members or keeps 30 which are movable into position to engage, respectively, the extremities of the side frame members 11 so that the inner and outer frames are fixed relatively to one another which safeguards against hydraulic failure of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements during transportation of the container. The blocking members 30 are mounted on a cross-shaft 31 which can be rotated by a rod 32 and lever 33 to clear the blocking member from engagement with the inner frame.

In operation, the wheeled frame 10 is positioned so that the side members 11 thereof are located, respectively, parallel and adjacent the sides of the container 25 to be lifted whilst the transverse member 12 of the wheeled frame is positioned parallel and adjacent the front wall of the container 25.

Thus positioned, the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 21 are extended by fluid pressure, thus causing the scissors action between the wheeled frame 10 and outer frame 14. The rollers 18 on the rearward extremities of the outer frame engage, respectively, the flanges 26 on the sides of the container 25 and lift the latter a small amount.

Continued extension of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 21 causes the transverse member 12 of the wheeled frame to engage the attachment members 27 on the front of the container and so raise the front end of the latter after the plungers 28 have been engaged in their respective arcuate slots 29. With the container thus held clear of the ground, the keeps 30 are positioned so that when the container is lowered by retracting the pistonand-cylinder arrangements 21, the weight is taken on the keeps which contact the front end of the wheeled frame 10.

To lower the container to the ground it is necessary to raise the container clear of the keeps 30, manually operate the keeps to clear the wheeled frame and then retract the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 21 to merely place the container on the ground. If on the other hand it is desired to discharge the contents of the container 25 by tipping the latter, this is effected by continuing the extension of the piston-and-cylinder arrangements 21 which raises the front end of the frame 10 to the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1 whilst the rollers 18 move forwardly along their respective flanges 26.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for handling containers comprising a container, a first frame having spaced side members, said side members having forward ends, a single transverse member interconnecting said forward ends, a second frame having spaced side members, said side members of said second frame having forward ends and rearward extremities, a single transverse member interconnecting said forward ends of said second frame side members, pivot means interconnecting said first and second frames with the rearward extremities of the side members of said second frame positioned above the side members of said first frame, and extensible means positioned between said first and second frames whereby actuation of said extensible means effects a scissor-like movement between the first and second frames about said pivot means thereby causing the transverse member of said first frame and the rearward extremities of said second frame to lift and/or tip the container positioned between said side members.

2. Container handling apparatus according to claim 1, in which said each side member of said first frame has a rear extremity and first frame a wheel mounted on the rear extremity of each side member and the second frame being positioned outside said first frame.

3. Container handling apparatus according to claim 1, in which said container is provided with a channel-shaped flange and the rearward extremity of each second frame side member having a roller which engages said channelshaped flange on the container.

4. Container handling apparatus according to claim 1, in which said extensible means comprise a pair of two stage hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units interconnecting the respective side members of said first and second frames.

5. Container handling apparatus according to claim 1, in which the transverse member of the first frame in cludes means for locking the container thereto.

6. Container handling apparatus according to claim 5, in which said container is provided with attachment members having arcuate slots formed therein and said locking means comprise a pair of spring loaded plungers which engage, respectively, said arcuate slots.

7. Container handling apparatus according to claim 1,

in which the transverse member of the second frame includes pivotally-mounted blocking members which engage said first frame during transportation of the container.

8. An apparatus for handling containers comprising a container, a first frame having spaced side members, said side members having forward ends, a single transverse member interconnecting said forward ends, means on said transverse member for locking the container thereto, a second frame having spaced side members, said side members of said second frame having forward ends and rearward extremities, a single transverse member interconnecting the forward ends of said side members of said second frame, pivotally-mounted blocking members on said transverse member of the second frame which engage said first frame during transportation of the container, pivot means interconnecting said first and second frames with the rearward extremities of the side members of said second frame positioned above the side members of said first frame, and extensible means positioned between said first and second frames whereby actuation of said extensible means effects a scissor-like movement about said pivot means between the first and second frames for causing the transverse member of said first frame and the rearward extremities of said second frame to lift and/or tip the container positioned between said side members.

9. An apparatus for handling containers comprising a container, a first frame having spaced side members, said side members having forward ends, a single transverse member interconnecting said forward ends, attachment members mounted on the container having arcuate slots, a pair of spring-loaded plungers on said transverse member which engage, respectively, in said arcuate slots for locking the container to said transverse member, each side member having a rear extremity, a wheel mounted on the rear extremity of each side member, a second frame having spaced side members positioned parallel to and outside the side members of said first frame, the side members of said'second frame having forward ends and rearward extremities, a single transverse member inteconnecting the forward ends of said second frame side members, pivotally-mounted blocking members on said transverse member of the second frame for engaging said first frame during transportation of the container, pivot means interconnecting said first and second frames with the rearward extremities of the side members of said second frame positioned above the side members of said first frame, a roller on the rearward extremity of each second frame side member, hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units interconnecting the respective side members of said first and second frames whereby actuation of said pistonand-cylinder units effects a scissor-like movement about said pivot means between said first and second frames for causing the transverse member of said first frame and the rollers on the rearward extremities of said second frame to lift and/or tip the container positioned between said side members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,247 3/1954 Jewett 214314 3,330,429 7/1967 Kress 214390 X 3,318,155 4/1968 Steiner 2l4390 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 214-390 

